Automatic point protector applicator

ABSTRACT

A machine to automatically feed two loaded clips of ammunition into point protectors, which are positioned and opened automatically. The clipped ammunition is gravity fed head first down feed chutes on either side of the machine, and released from the chutes in a controlled sequence by escapement mechanisms which orient two clips in the proper position for insertion into the point protector. The two loaded clips are then transferred and inserted simultaneously into the point protector. The point protectors which are shipped flat are loaded into a magazine and by appropriate mechanism are transferred from the magazine and automatically opened in position to receive the two loaded clips. Upon completion of the insertion operation, the filled point protectors are released by an automatically controlled detent, which permits automatic ejection of the filled point protector.

United States Patent [1 1 Pinkepank et al.

Oct. 9, R973 AUTOMATIC POINT PROTECTOR APPLICATOR [75] Inventors: Raymond W. Pinkepank, Jackson,

Mo.; William R. Starr, Johnson, Kans.

[73 l Assignee: Remington Arms Company, Inc.,

Bridgeport, Conn.

[22] Filed: Mar. 29, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 239,229

[52] US. Cl 53/142, 53/186, 53/196, 93/53, 214/65 [51] Int. Cl B65b 35/50 [58] Field of Search 53/142, 186, 196

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,068,626 l2/l962 lanuzzi et al 53/142 X 3,5l7,478 6/1970 Winch et al. 53/142 Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Attorney-John H. Lewis, Jr. et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A machine to automatically feed two loaded clips of ammunition into point protectors, which are positioned and opened automatically. The clipped ammunition is gravity fed head first down feed chutes on either side of the machine, and released from the chutes in a controlled sequence by escapement mechanisms which orient two clips in the proper position for insertion into the point protector. The two loaded clips are then transferred and inserted simultaneously into the point protector. The point protectors which are shipped flat are loaded into a magazine and by appropriate mechanism are transferred from the magazine and automatically opened in position to receive the two loaded clips. Upon completion of the insertion operation, the filled point protectors are released by an automatically controlled detent, which permits automatic ejection of the filled point protector.

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the invention to provide an automatic mechanism to.

release clipped ammunition in a controlled sequence by escapement mechanisms which orient two clips in the proper position for insertion into the point protector carton. Another particular object is to transfer collapsed point protector cartons from a magazine and automatically open the cartons to receive loaded clips, said automatic opening of said cartons being effected without the necessity of providing suction cups, inserted members, fingers, or hinged members to force the collapsed carton into an opened position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which is controlled by a combination of crank and cam operated slides, which provides a precisely timed sequence of operations, and where required motions may be accomplished with one electric main drive motor.

A point protector in the sense used in the present discussion refers to a rectangular sleeve of cardboard, or other suitable material, open at both ends, into which one or more clips of loaded ammunition may be inserted. They are used primarily in handling and shipping of military ammunition and have as their main function to protect the projectiles of the loaded cartridges. It is well known that the accuracy of ammunition is impaired by deformation of the points of the bullets or projectiles and so the point protector is intended to prevent deformation of the bullet points.

Other objects and advantages will be obvious after reading the specification and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the machine assembly.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the machine assembly showing the clip escapement mechanism on the upper shaft.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the machine assembly showing the carton erection and escapement mechanism and the gate detent on the clutch shaft.

FIG. 4 is an isometric, broken-away view showing the primary drive and the associated means for driving the various other driving shafts.

FIG. 5 is an isometric, broken-away view of the clip escapement mechanism.

FIG. 6 is an isometric, broken-away view of the camming means to actuate the carton erecting slide.

FIG. 7 is an isometric, broken-away view of the camming, means to actuate the carton erecting gate support.

FIG. 8 is an end elevation view of the first sequence in the clip release and feeding cycle.

FIG. 9 is an end elevation view of the second sequence in the clip release and feeding cycle.

FIG. 10 is an end elevation view of the third sequence in the clip release and feeding cycle. 7

FIG. 11 is an end elevation view of the fourth sequence in the clip release and feeding cycle.

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the clip feed mechanism just prior to the clips being inserted into the expanded carton. 1

FIG. I3 is a side elevation view of the first sequence in the carton feed and erecting cycle.

FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the second sequence in the carton feed and erecting cycle.

FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of the third sequence in the carton feed and erecting cycle.

As shown in FIG. 1, a frame 10 provides the support for the entire machine I2. Mounted at a lower elevation of frame 10 is a gear head motor M which through sprocket and chain drive means 16 drives a clutch shaft 18. The clutch shaft 18 drives an upper shaft 26 through chain means 22 and a lower shaft 24 through chain means 26. (See FIG. 4.) These are the main drives and all motions of the automatic machinery to be described will work off of one or another of the three shaft means 118, 20, or 24.

FIGS. 8-12 illustrate the initial aspects of the inventions, i. e. the various sequences of the clip release and feeding cycle. Mounted on the upper surface of the frame 10 are two feed chutes 26 and 36 which are inclined so that clips of ammunition 32 will discharge by gravity to a point located between the discharge ends of said feed chutes. As shown in FIG. 8, the clips of ammunition, 32, 32a, 32b, and 320 are oriented in the feed chutes so that they are fed down the chute by gravity head first down. Clip release means 34 and 36 are pro vided at the discharge ends of each feed chute to control the discharge of said clips 32 from the feed chutes.

Each clip release means 34 and 36 consists of a flat plate member 38 having side plates 60. The forward end of the flat plate 38 is turned downwardly to form forward flange 42 and the rear end of plate 38 is turned upwardly to form rear flange 44. Rigidly fixed to the flat plate 38intermediate the ends thereof is a shaft 66, said shaft in turn being mounted on the lower end of the feed chute in a manner to permit the shaft to be oscillated thus pivoting the flat plate. A spring biasing means 48 is connected to side plate MB of each clip release means to force the flat plates 36 to pivot downwardly so that the forward flange 42 of each clip release means is in the down position to prevent clips from being discharged from either feed chute. See FIG. 11.

At the proper time, in the operation of the machine, shaft 46 of clip release 34 (see FIG. 3) will be actuated (in a manner described later) to pivot the clip release means 34 upwardly so as to raise the forward flange 42 out of restraining engagement with the lowermost clip 32 and to lower the rear flange 46 into restraining engagement with the second clip 32a in the feed chute. (See FIG. 8.) The lowermost clip 32 falls by gravity into a stationary receiver means 50 onto a crank driven main slide member 52 which is slidably mounted on a supporting surface 56 on the top of the frame. The shaft 46 of the clip release 36 is then actuated to pivot the clip release 34 downwardly to lower forward flange 42 and raise rear flange 44. As can be seen in FIG. 9 the second clip 32a is released and moves into the first position to be held therein by forward flange 62 for the next cycle. After the clip 32 is resting on slide 52, the opposite clip release means 36 on feed chute 28 is actuated to raise the forward flange 442 and lower the rear flange 44. See FIG. 10. This permits the lowermost clip 32b from feed chute 23 to drop in position on top of clip 32 and pointing in an opposite direction thereto. The final sequence of this particular cycle is shown in FIG. 11 where the clip release means 36 is caused to pivot downwardly so that both feed chutes are prevented from discharging clips.

At this point, main slide member 52 is withdrawn from under the two clips of ammunition whereupon the clips drop to supporting surface 54 of a base member on the frame. See FIG. 12. The next sequence is the moving forward of the main slide member 52 wherein clip pusher means 56 on the forward end of the main slide push the clips 32 and 32b, guided by guide bars 58 into an open carton 62 which had been opened and erected simultaneously with the clip feeding cycle.

As mentioned above, during the time the clips of ammunition are being discharged from the feed chutes, a secondary automatic carton feed and erecting operation is going on simultaneously. These sequences are shown in FIGS. 13-15.

As seen in FIG. 2, a magazine 60 is positioned on the frame adjacent to the feed chutes and laterally displaced from the main slide member 52. Turning to FIG. 13, magazine 60 holds a stack of point protectors or cartons 62, which are shipped flat and which must be opened up to accommodate the two clips of ammunition. A spring loaded latching plunger means 64 is mounted on the magazine adjacent to its discharge or lower end. Slidably mounted under the magazine is a carton erecting slide 66 having an upstanding portion 66a to which a carton transfer plate 68 is fixed to underlie and support the stack of collapsed cartons 62. The transfer plate 68 has a step 70 having a predetermined height which co-operates with the positioning of the latching plunger to permit the removal of the lowermost collapsed carton 62 upon reciprocation of the carton erecting slide and the transfer plate. (See FIG. 14). Rigidly mounted to or integrally formed with the carton erecting slide is a carton erecting block 72. The erecting block 72 is located a predetermined distance from the adjacent side 66b of upstanding portion 66a of the carton erecting slide 66 to form a channel or depression 74 therewith. As can be seen in FIG. 13, the width of depression 74 is less than the length of the collapsed carton 62 so that when the collapsed carton falls into the depression the forward end of the carton rests in an inclined manner on the upper portion of the block 72. As mentioned above, the carton erecting slide 66, the transfer plate 68, and the carton erecting block 72 reciprocate back and forth under the magazine 60. If we assume that the stroke in which the lowermost collapsed carton is picked up by the transfer plate 68 and ejected from the magazine as being the forward stroke (see FIG. it can be seen that a stationary erecting plate 76 is located on the frame so that upon forward movement of the erecting slide the erecting block 72 telescopes under the erecting plate 76. FIG. 15 thus shows the forward position of the carton erecting slide 66. It can be seen that a second collapsed carton 62 is removed from the magazine and is still resting on the transfer plate 68. We will begin our discussion of the feed and erecting cycle from this point and refer to FIG. 13.

Upon movement of the erecting slide 66 to the left (in the direction shown), the collapsed carton 62 strikes a step 644 on the latching plunger means 64 and is pushed off the transfer plate 68 into the depression 74 and into the inclined position shown in FIG. 13. At this point the movement of the erecting slide is reversed and moved to the right (see FIG. 14) whereupon the erecting block 72 telescopes under erecting plate 76. The upper, right corner of the inclined carton 62 butts against the erecting plate 76 while the lower, rear end is being forced forwardly by the side 66b of the upstanding portion 66a. Further movement of the slide opens the carton up to the position shown in FIG. 15. As will be explained later, a vertically movable gate means 78 is actuated upwardly to support the open carton to permit insertion of the clips therein. See FIG. 12. After the main slide 52 inserts the clips into the opened carton, the gate means 78 are lowered to permit the main slide 52 to push the carton-enclosed clips forwardly off the loading area to a conveyor means (not shown).

As discussed above, there are four separate actuating mechanisms which must be properly organized and timed to permit automatic operation of the machine in the desired manner: (1) means to reciprocate the main slide 52; (2) means to actuate the clip release means 34 and 36 to feed the loaded clips to the receiver; (3) means to reciprocate the carton erecting slide 66; and (4) means to actuate the gate means 78 into and out of supporting position.

The actuation of the main slide 52 is best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4. As mentioned above, the entire machine is driven with a single electric main drive motor 14 which drives clutch shaft 18 through a chain drive means 16 which in turn drives lower shaft 24 through a chain drive means 26. Lower shaft 24 drives vertical shaft 80 through miter gears 82, the vertical shaft in turn rotating crank plate 84 which is connected to main slide 52 by link 86. This drive means is rather straightforward and need not be further discussed.

The means actuating the clip release means 34 and 36 are shown in FIG. 5. Fixedly attached to the shafts 46 of the clip release means are fingers 88 which are engaged by washers 90 which are rigidly mounted on spring loaded rods 92. The actuating device for rods 92 is two levers 94 and 96 containing cam followers 98 at their driving ends. Levers 94 and 96 are supported by a lever bracket 100. At the opposite end of the levers from the cam followers are clevises 102 which support the spring loaded rods 92. The cam followers 98 are actuated by two independent release cams 104 driven from upper shaft 20. Rods 92 are timed to permit clip escapement down the clip feed chutes 28 and 30 by raising the clip release means 34 and 36 at 180 intervals during rotation of shaft 20.

The mechanism to reciprocate the carton erecting slide 66 is shown in FIG. 6. First, it is to be noted that the slide 66 is actuated by the clutch shaft 18 whereas the clip release means were actuated by the upper shaft 20. A carton erecting cam 106 is mounted on clutch shaft 18 to actuate lever arm 108 by means of a cam follower 110 on the lever arm which rides in a cam slot 112 on the cam 106. Lever am 108 is pivotally sup ported to the frame at 114 and to the carton erecting slide 66 by means of a cam follower-groove arrangement generally indicated as 116.

The final actuating means, i. e. the mechanism to actuate the gate detent means 78 into and out of carton supporting position is shown in FIG. 7. This actuating means is also driven from the clutch shaft 18. The mechanism is actuated by the gate cam 118, which operates a cam follower which is affixed to gate lever 122. The gate lever 122 is supported by a gate bracket 124. The lever 122 raises the spring loaded gate 78 which is timed in a manner to hold an erected carton while the clip pusher mechanism on the front end of the main slide 52 is moving the clips into the carton. (See FIG. 12). At the instant the clips have been placed in the carton, the gate retracts and the assembled clips and carton are ejected down the discharge chute (not shown).

What is claimed is:

1. A machine to apply a point protector carton to clipped ammunition comprising: means feeding said clipped ammunition into a stationary receiver means and onto a main slide means, means retracting said main slide means to allow the clipped ammunition to fall between guide means and onto a supporting surface, a carton feed and erecting mechanism simultaneously feeding a point protector carton into loading position and erecting said point protector carton, gate means positioned in abutting engagement with said erected point protector carton, means actuating said main slide means to push said clipped ammunition into said erected point applicator carton, means lowering said gate means just as the clip insertion is completed so that the forward stroke of the main slide pushes the loaded carton away from the loading area.

2. A machine to apply a point protector carton as recited in claim 1 wherein said means feeding said clipped ammunition to said main slide means comprises feed chutes positioned on both sides of said main slide means to feed a clip of ammunition from each feed chute by gravity head first down in a direction transversely of the direction of said main slide means, means to release said clips of ammunition from said feed chutes in a controlled sequence to orient the two clips in the proper position in which one clip of ammunition overlies the other and points in an opposite direction to the other clip of ammunition.

3. A machine as recited in claim 2 wherein said means to release said clips of ammunition from said feed chutes comprises clip release means at the lower end of each of said feed chutes, means operatively connecting each of said clip release means to a single main drive means to release a first clip of ammunition from one feed chute into said stationary receiver means and then to release a second clip of ammunition from a second feed chute to position the second clip of ammunition on top of the first but pointing in the opposite direction, spring means connecting said clip release means to prevent release of clip from either feed chute during the time when neither of the clip release means is being actuated by said single main drive means.

4. A machine as recited in claim 2 wherein said means to release said clips of ammunition from said feed chutes comprises clip release means at the lower end of each of said feed chutes, each of said clip releases comprising a flat plate, means pivotally mounting said flat plate at the discharge end of each feed chute, each of said flat plates having a downwardly directed flange at its forward end and an upwardly directed flange at its rear end, actuating means operatively connecting said pivotal flat plates with said single main drive means so that the flat plates'and associated flanges are pivoted at predetermined time intervals so that when said flat plates are pivoted downwardly, the forward flange restrains the lowermost clip from falling by gravity into the receiver means while the rear flange is disengaged from the next clip in line and when the flat plates are pivoted upwardly, the forward flange moves out of engagement with the lowermost clip to permit the lowermost clip to fall free and the rear flange moves into restraining engagement with the next clip in line, said actuating means adapted to pivot one flat plate downwardly first to release a clip, then pivot the other flat plate downwardly to release a second clip, then provide a dwell period during which time the two previously deposited clips are removed from the receiver means, and spring biasing means operatively connected to each of said flat plates to pivot both flat plates downwardly during said dwell period so that neither feed chute can discharge any clips.

5. A machine to apply a point protector carton to clipped ammunition as recited in claim 1 wherein said carton feeding and erecting mechanism comprises a magazine to hold the cartons in a collapsed condition, a carton erecting slide mounted beneath said magazine which is moved back and forth towards a stationary erecting plate, means in said carton erecting slide adapted to remove the lowermost collapsed carton from the bottom of the magazine and to position the collapsed carton between the forward end of said reciprocating erecting slide and said stationary erecting plate whereupon upon movement of said erecting slide towards said erecting plate the collapsed carton is forced to unfold to an open position so as to permit insertion of said clipped ammunition.

6. A machine to apply a point protector carton to clipped ammunition comprising: a frame, a main slide means, means reciprocating said main slide means in a longitudinal direction on said frame, feed chute means positioned on both sides of said main slide means, means feeding a clip of ammunition from each feed chulte means to a stationary receiver means positioned above said main slide means and below said feed chute means, a carton feed and erecting mechanism located on said frame adjacent to said feed chute means, said carton feed and erecting mechanism comprising a magazine which contains and dispenses a collapsed carton from the bottom thereof, means automatically moving and unfolding said carton transversely to the direction of movement of said main slide means to a point directly in line with said main slide means, gate means retaining said opened carton while said clipped ammunition is inserted into said carton by a stroke of said main slide means, and means lowering said gate means when the clip insertion is completed so that the main slide can push the loaded carton away from the loading area.

7. A machine as specified in claim 6 in which means are provided to automatically feed a clip of ammunition first from a feed chute. on one side of said main slide means and then from the opposite feed chute so that two clips are positioned in said stationary receiver, one clip on top of the other with the ammunition clips pointing in opposite directions. 

1. A machine to apply a point protector carton to clipped ammunition comprising: means feeding said clipped ammunition into a stationary receiver means and onto a main slide means, means retracting said main slide means to allow the clipped ammunition to fall between guide means and onto a supporting surface, a carton feed and erecting mechanism simultaneously feeding a point protector carton into loading position and erecting said point protector carton, gate means positioned in abutting engagement with said erected point protector carton, means actuating said main slide means to push said clipped ammunition into said erected poInt applicator carton, means lowering said gate means just as the clip insertion is completed so that the forward stroke of the main slide pushes the loaded carton away from the loading area.
 2. A machine to apply a point protector carton as recited in claim 1 wherein said means feeding said clipped ammunition to said main slide means comprises feed chutes positioned on both sides of said main slide means to feed a clip of ammunition from each feed chute by gravity head first down in a direction transversely of the direction of said main slide means, means to release said clips of ammunition from said feed chutes in a controlled sequence to orient the two clips in the proper position in which one clip of ammunition overlies the other and points in an opposite direction to the other clip of ammunition.
 3. A machine as recited in claim 2 wherein said means to release said clips of ammunition from said feed chutes comprises clip release means at the lower end of each of said feed chutes, means operatively connecting each of said clip release means to a single main drive means to release a first clip of ammunition from one feed chute into said stationary receiver means and then to release a second clip of ammunition from a second feed chute to position the second clip of ammunition on top of the first but pointing in the opposite direction, spring means connecting said clip release means to prevent release of clip from either feed chute during the time when neither of the clip release means is being actuated by said single main drive means.
 4. A machine as recited in claim 2 wherein said means to release said clips of ammunition from said feed chutes comprises clip release means at the lower end of each of said feed chutes, each of said clip releases comprising a flat plate, means pivotally mounting said flat plate at the discharge end of each feed chute, each of said flat plates having a downwardly directed flange at its forward end and an upwardly directed flange at its rear end, actuating means operatively connecting said pivotal flat plates with said single main drive means so that the flat plates and associated flanges are pivoted at predetermined time intervals so that when said flat plates are pivoted downwardly, the forward flange restrains the lowermost clip from falling by gravity into the receiver means while the rear flange is disengaged from the next clip in line and when the flat plates are pivoted upwardly, the forward flange moves out of engagement with the lowermost clip to permit the lowermost clip to fall free and the rear flange moves into restraining engagement with the next clip in line, said actuating means adapted to pivot one flat plate downwardly first to release a clip, then pivot the other flat plate downwardly to release a second clip, then provide a dwell period during which time the two previously deposited clips are removed from the receiver means, and spring biasing means operatively connected to each of said flat plates to pivot both flat plates downwardly during said dwell period so that neither feed chute can discharge any clips.
 5. A machine to apply a point protector carton to clipped ammunition as recited in claim 1 wherein said carton feeding and erecting mechanism comprises a magazine to hold the cartons in a collapsed condition, a carton erecting slide mounted beneath said magazine which is moved back and forth towards a stationary erecting plate, means in said carton erecting slide adapted to remove the lowermost collapsed carton from the bottom of the magazine and to position the collapsed carton between the forward end of said reciprocating erecting slide and said stationary erecting plate whereupon upon movement of said erecting slide towards said erecting plate the collapsed carton is forced to unfold to an open position so as to permit insertion of said clipped ammunition.
 6. A machine to apply a point protector carton to clipped ammunition comprising: a frame, a main slide means, means reciprocating said main slide means in a longitudinal direction on said frame, feed chute means positioned on both sides of said main slide means, means feeding a clip of ammunition from each feed chute means to a stationary receiver means positioned above said main slide means and below said feed chute means, a carton feed and erecting mechanism located on said frame adjacent to said feed chute means, said carton feed and erecting mechanism comprising a magazine which contains and dispenses a collapsed carton from the bottom thereof, means automatically moving and unfolding said carton transversely to the direction of movement of said main slide means to a point directly in line with said main slide means, gate means retaining said opened carton while said clipped ammunition is inserted into said carton by a stroke of said main slide means, and means lowering said gate means when the clip insertion is completed so that the main slide can push the loaded carton away from the loading area.
 7. A machine as specified in claim 6 in which means are provided to automatically feed a clip of ammunition first from a feed chute on one side of said main slide means and then from the opposite feed chute so that two clips are positioned in said stationary receiver, one clip on top of the other with the ammunition clips pointing in opposite directions. 